Finland has 14 research universities and 23 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) offering Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs in English. Each institution differs in program variety, tuition fees, city living costs, and admission approach — explore the full list below to find the right fit for your academic and career goals.
Finland's 37 higher education institutions fall into two categories, each with a different academic focus and admission approach.
Focus on academic theory and research, offering degrees up to Doctoral level. Best suited for students aiming toward research, academia, or advanced specialization.
Focus on practical, career-oriented education, and generally require relevant work experience for Master's-level admission. Best suited for students aiming for direct industry entry.
Finland's oldest and largest university, founded in 1640, located in the capital city of Helsinki.
Offers a wide range of English-taught Bachelor's programs (Science, Liberal Arts and Sciences) and dozens of Master's programs across science, social sciences, humanities, and law. Scholarship program offers tuition fee waivers of 50–100% for qualifying non-EU/EEA students.
A leading research university in Espoo (Helsinki metro area), known for combining business, technology, and design education.
Internationally recognized for business, engineering, and design programs, and admits Bachelor's applicants through SAT/ACT-based routes for several English-taught programs. Scholarship program offers partial or full tuition waivers for top-performing non-EU/EEA students.
A research university in Tampere, one of Finland's largest student cities, known for technology, health, and social sciences.
Offers English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programs across technology, health sciences, and society-focused fields. Tuition Fee Scholarship covers 50% of tuition for high-achieving applicants, plus an early-bird discount for students who accept their offer quickly.
The largest University of Applied Sciences in Finland, located in Helsinki, known for practical, industry-linked education.
Offers more than 60 Bachelor's and Master's programs, with a strong focus on business, technology, health care, and culture. Offers Finnish-language scholarship incentives for international students who complete Finnish language courses during their studies.
A research university in Oulu, Northern Finland, known for engineering, technology, and medicine, with comparatively lower living costs than southern Finnish cities.
Offers English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programs, particularly strong in engineering, computer science, and business. Offers an Early Bird tuition discount for students who accept their offer quickly, plus continuing-student tuition waivers of 10–40% from the second year onward.
A research university in Turku, one of Finland's oldest cities, offering English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programs with SAT-based admission for some Bachelor's tracks.
Offers two English-taught Bachelor's programs and sixteen Master's programs, with admission to some Bachelor's programs available via SAT score. Offers a €2,000 Early Bird discount for Master's applicants and a 50% tuition scholarship from the second year for qualifying students.
Finland's second-largest university, located in Jyväskylä, known for education, sciences, and sport sciences, with affordable living costs among major student cities.
Offers English-taught Master's programs across education, sciences, and social sciences, with select Bachelor's options. Scholarships cover 50–100% of tuition for qualifying Master's students, including a fully-funded Fulbright–University of Jyväskylä Graduate Award.
A large, multidisciplinary research university with campuses in Joensuu, Kuopio, and Savonlinna, known for health sciences, law, and environmental sciences.
Offers 35 English-taught degree programs across 13 fields, from medicine to environmental law. Tuition waivers of 30–50% apply depending on the program, applied automatically for eligible students during admission.
A technology-focused research university with campuses in Lappeenranta and Lahti, known for engineering, business, and clean energy research.
Offers Bachelor's and Master's programs in technology and business, with a direct SAT-based admission route for some Bachelor's degrees. Offers an early-bird discount and merit-based scholarships; Bachelor's students have an automatic pathway into a related Master's degree. *Tuition applies from August 2026.
A Swedish-speaking research university with campuses in Turku and Vaasa, offering select English-taught Master's programs.
Offers nine English-taught international Master's programs across multiple fields. Offers a 100% tuition fee scholarship (two years, second year conditional) to eligible non-EU/EEA Master's applicants, plus an early commitment offer for autumn 2026 admits.
A business and technology-focused research university on Finland's west coast, known for energy technology and international business programs.
Offers English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programs in International Business, Industrial Management, Strategic Business Development, and technology fields. Merit-based scholarships include the Finland Scholarship, covering full first-year tuition for top-ranked applicants.
Finland's northernmost university, located in Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, known for Arctic studies, law, and art and design.
Specializes in Arctic studies, law, social sciences, art and design, and education, offering a distinctive environment for students interested in Arctic research and sustainable tourism. Student housing available from around €320/month, among Finland's most affordable.
Finland's oldest business school, with campuses in Helsinki and Vaasa, offering English-taught Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs in economics and business.
A highly selective business school evaluating applicants on academic results, GMAT/GRE or SAT/ACT scores, and motivation letters. Offers a full tuition fee waiver plus a living allowance for eligible students from developing countries via its GBSN-affiliated scholarship.
Finland's dedicated arts university, combining the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, and Theatre Academy.
Ranked among the top institutions globally for music education, offering Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs across fine arts, music, and theatre. *Tuition rises to €28,000/year for students starting August 2026 or later, with no scholarship currently available to offset this fee.
A business-focused UAS in Helsinki (Pasila, Malmi, Porvoo, Vierumäki campuses), specializing in business, IT, hospitality, and sports management.
Offers 8 Bachelor's and 3 Master's programs fully in English across business, IT, hospitality, and sports. Offers a €2,000 Early Bird tuition discount and a 50% tuition fee waiver for Bachelor's applicants with strong SAT scores.
A UAS in the Helsinki metropolitan area (Vantaa/Espoo), known for practical, industry-linked education and strong ties to business and public-sector partners.
Offers a wide range of Bachelor's and Master's programs in English, with a strong focus on practical, research-integrated learning. Laurea does not provide its own student housing — students arrange accommodation independently, typically through HOAS.
A UAS in Jyväskylä, known for technology, health, and business programs, with a relatively accessible admission process for Bachelor's applicants.
Offers Bachelor's and Master's programs across technology, business, and health fields, with accommodation support through the KOAS student housing foundation in Jyväskylä.
A UAS in Tampere, offering practical Bachelor's and Master's programs in technology, business, health, and media, alongside Tampere University.
Offers English-taught Bachelor's programs including International Business, Software Engineering, and Nursing, plus professional Master's programs requiring relevant work experience. Offers a 50% Early Bird tuition waiver for Bachelor's students and 20% for Master's students paying by the early deadline.
A UAS in Turku offering practical Bachelor's and Master's programs, with tuition fees increasing under Finland's new full-cost fee policy from January 2026.
Tuition increased from €11,500 to €12,000/year under Finland's revised full-cost tuition policy for programs starting in 2026 or later. Offers a €1,000 Early Bird discount for the first academic year. *Applies to programs starting January 2026 or later.
A UAS in Oulu with around 240 international degree students, offering 28 Bachelor's and 17 Master's programs across IT, culture, business, and technology.
Offers English-taught programs in Information Technology, Business, Natural Resources, and Technology, with Oulu's lower living costs making it one of the more affordable Finnish student cities.
The sixth-largest UAS in Finland, based across Kuopio, Iisalmi, and Varkaus, with engineering as its largest field of study.
Largest field is engineering, with additional programs in health and business. Most instruction is in Finnish, with a select number of English-taught programs available for international applicants — confirm current English program list before applying.
A UAS spread across seven campuses in southern Finland (main campus Hämeenlinna), representing students from 60+ countries.
Offers 29 Bachelor's and 13 Master's programs across engineering, business, natural resources, design, and health care. Offers an Early Bird tuition discount for 2026–2027 and language-skill-based scholarships for students who develop Finnish proficiency during their studies.
A UAS formed from the merger of Lahti and Saimaa UAS, with campuses in Lahti and Lappeenranta, focused on technology, business, and design.
Offers Bachelor's and Master's programs in technology, business, and design across its Lahti and Lappeenranta campuses, sharing a region with LUT University.
A UAS in Joensuu offering Bachelor's and Master's programs in seven fields, with one of the most transparent, itemized tuition structures among Finnish UAS institutions.
Offers Bachelor's programs in International Business, Industrial Management, and Information and Communication Technology, plus a Master's in Sustainability Management. Offers a 20% Early Bird tuition discount for students who accept and pay within 20 days of their offer.
A UAS with campuses in Kokkola and Ylivieska, focused on engineering and business programs.
Offers scholarships covering up to 50% of tuition fees for high-achieving international students, continuing throughout their studies for those who maintain strong academic performance.
A UAS in Seinäjoki known for agriculture, business, and technology programs, serving a rural western Finland region.
Specializes in agriculture, business, and technology, with some of the lowest living costs among Finland's UAS cities given its smaller regional setting.
A UAS with campuses across Satakunta region (Pori, Rauma), offering technology, business, and health programs since 1997.
Offers Finnish and English programs across more than a thousand study options, with technology, business, and health as core strengths.
One of Finland's largest UAS institutions, with campuses across Kouvola, Mikkeli, and Savonlinna, known for technology, business, and logistics.
Offers Bachelor's and Master's programs across technology, business, and logistics, formed from the merger of Kymenlaakso and Mikkeli UAS.
A UAS in Vaasa focused on technology, business, and IT, alongside the research-focused University of Vaasa in the same city.
One of the more affordable Finnish UAS institutions for Bachelor's-level tuition, with programs in technology, business, and IT. Note: this figure is notably lower than most other UAS and warrants an extra verification pass.
A Swedish-speaking UAS with campuses in Turku, Vaasa, and Raasepori, known for maritime, technology, and business programs.
Known for its maritime programs, alongside technology and business degrees, taught primarily in Swedish with select English-taught options for international applicants.
A Swedish-speaking UAS in Helsinki, offering programs in health care, business, and media.
Offers Bachelor's and Master's programs in nursing, business, and media, taught in both Swedish and English, based in Helsinki.
A UAS with multiple campuses across Finland, specializing in social services and health care education.
Specializes in social services and health care programs, preparing graduates for community and social work roles across Finland and internationally.
A specialized UAS focused on cultural management and youth work, with campuses across several Finnish cities.
Specializes in cultural management, community education, and youth work — a distinctive program focus not found at most other Finnish UAS institutions.
A UAS in Kajaani, Northern Finland, offering engineering, tourism, and sports-related programs.
Offers programs in engineering, tourism, and sports, with some of the most affordable living costs among Finland's UAS cities given its smaller northern location.
A UAS based in Rovaniemi, alongside the University of Lapland, offering engineering, business, and tourism programs in Finland's Arctic north.
Offers engineering, business, and tourism programs, capitalizing on Rovaniemi's Arctic location and tourism industry for practical, industry-linked education.
A small UAS in the autonomous Åland Islands, specializing in maritime, business, and hospitality programs.
A small, specialized institution known for maritime programs given the region's strong shipping and seafaring industry, alongside business and hospitality degrees.
National Defence University is excluded from this list for Bangladeshi applicants. It trains officers for the Finnish Defence Forces and Border Guard, and its Bachelor's program is restricted to Finnish citizens under 26 who have completed Finnish conscript service — it is not an open international degree pathway. Listing it as a general study option would be misleading.
Use these factors when comparing universities from this list:
Once you've identified universities that match your goals and budget, confirm your eligibility and explore program-specific costs.
Tuition fees vary by university and program. Among research universities, Tampere University's fees (€10,000–€12,000/year) are on the lower end, while Universities of Applied Sciences often range from €8,000–€12,000/year depending on the program.
Aalto University and Tampere University are both strongly recognized for technology and engineering programs, while UAS institutions like Metropolia and TAMK offer more practical, industry-linked technology degrees.
No. IELTS requirements vary by university and program, typically ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 for Bachelor's and Master's programs. Always confirm the exact score required for your specific program.
Tampere generally has lower living costs than Helsinki. Students in Helsinki typically spend €1,000–€1,300 per month, while Tampere students typically spend €800–€1,100 per month.
Most Finnish universities offer scholarship programs for non-EU/EEA students, usually in the form of partial or full tuition fee waivers based on academic performance. University of Helsinki, Aalto University, and Tampere University all offer structured scholarship schemes.
Finland is home to some of the world’s most innovative and internationally recognized universities. Finnish universities are known for high quality education, cutting edge research, modern teaching methods, and strong industry collaboration. Whether you are interested in Engineering, Business, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare, Information Technology, Design, or Social Sciences, Finland offers excellent study opportunities for international students.
Below are the top universities in Finland and the study programs they are best known for.
Best For: Medicine, Law, Education, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Social Sciences,
The University of Helsinki is Finland’s oldest and highest-ranked university. It is internationally recognized for academic excellence, research innovation, and global partnerships. The university offers numerous English-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs, making it one of the top choices for international students. It is particularly strong in medicine, life sciences, environmental research, AI, and education.
Best For: Business, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Design, Architecture, Entrepreneurship, Economics,
Aalto University is one of Europe’s leading innovation universities, combining technology, business, and design under one institution. Students benefit from close collaboration with global industries, startups, and research organizations. Aalto is particularly popular among students interested in entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and technology-driven careers.
Best For: Information Technology, Software Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Public Health,
Tampere University is well known for interdisciplinary education and practical research. It offers internationally recognized programs in engineering, technology, health sciences, and business. Strong industry partnerships provide students with excellent internship and employment opportunities.
Best For: Business Administration, Biotechnology, Public Health, Education, Computer Science, Future Technologies,
The University of Turku is one of Finland’s largest multidisciplinary universities. It has an excellent reputation for biotechnology, education, healthcare, and business programs. International students benefit from research-oriented teaching, modern laboratories, and strong global collaborations.
Best For: Renewable Energy, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Technology, Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management,
LUT University is internationally recognized for sustainability, clean energy, and engineering education. Students interested in green technology, renewable energy, industrial innovation, and sustainable business solutions will find excellent opportunities here.
Best For: Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Wireless Communication, Information Technology, Electronics, Medical Technology,
The University of Oulu is globally respected for technology research and innovation. It is one of Europe’s leading universities in wireless communications, AI, and cybersecurity. Students gain access to advanced laboratories, international research projects, and industry collaborations.
Best For: Pharmacy, Public Health, Environmental Science, Forestry, Education, Psychology,
The University of Eastern Finland offers internationally recognized education with a strong focus on health sciences, environmental sustainability, and multidisciplinary research. Its supportive learning environment makes it a popular choice for international students.
Best For: Education, Psychology, Sports Science, Information Systems, Digital Learning, Teacher Education,
The University of Jyväskylä is widely recognized as Finland’s leading university for teacher education and educational research. It also offers excellent programs in psychology, digital technologies, and information systems, attracting students from around the world.
Best For: International Business, Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Industrial Management,
The University of Vaasa specializes in business education, economics, finance, and management. Its internationally accredited business programs prepare students for leadership roles in multinational companies through practical learning and industry collaboration.
Best For: Chemical Engineering, Information Technology, International Law, Human Rights, Education, Social Sciences,
Åbo Akademi University is Finland’s only Swedish-language multidisciplinary university. It offers high-quality education in engineering, law, education, and social sciences while maintaining a strong international learning environment. Students benefit from small class sizes, personalized teaching, and active research communities.
Best For: Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Marketing, International Business, Supply Chain Management,
Hanken School of Economics is one of the oldest business schools in the Nordic region and is internationally recognized with prestigious AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA accreditations. The university is highly regarded for finance, economics, and international business programs, offering students excellent networking opportunities and strong industry connections.
Best For: Music, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Theatre, Dance, Arts Management,
The University of the Arts Helsinki is Finland’s leading institution for creative arts education. It combines three renowned academies to provide world-class programs in music, theatre, dance, and fine arts. Students gain practical experience through performances, exhibitions, and international artistic collaborations.
Best For: Information Technology, Nursing, Healthcare, Media, Business Administration, International Business,
Arcada University of Applied Sciences is known for its modern teaching approach and strong emphasis on practical learning. The university offers English-taught programs in IT, healthcare, and business while maintaining close partnerships with industries to enhance students’ career prospects.
Best For: Information Technology, Software Engineering, Business, Healthcare, Nursing, Construction Engineering,
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is Finland’s largest university of applied sciences, offering career-focused education with extensive industry collaboration. Students benefit from innovation projects, internships, and modern learning facilities that prepare them for the global job market.
Best For: Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Tourism, Information Technology, Digital Business, Sales & Marketing,
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is highly respected for business and hospitality education. The university provides practical, industry-oriented programs with strong internship opportunities, making graduates highly employable in Finland and internationally.
Best For: Engineering, Information Technology, Business, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Project Management,
Turku University of Applied Sciences focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied research. Students work closely with businesses on real-world projects while gaining valuable practical experience in engineering, IT, and healthcare sectors.
Best For: Sustainable Business, Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, Design, Logistics, Tourism,
LAB University of Applied Sciences is recognized for sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The university offers internationally oriented programs that combine academic knowledge with practical industry experience, preparing students for future-focused careers.
Best For: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, International Business, Nursing, Logistics,
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences is well known for technology-driven education and applied research. Students gain hands-on experience through modern laboratories, smart technology projects, and close cooperation with industries across Finland.
Best For: Automation Engineering, Food Technology, Business Administration, Agriculture, Information Technology,
SeAMK provides practical education with a strong focus on entrepreneurship and regional innovation. Its industry partnerships and project-based learning help students develop professional skills that meet current market demands.
Best For: Information Technology, Business Administration, Industrial Management, Nursing, Renewable Energy, Forestry,
Karelia University of Applied Sciences offers internationally focused degree programs designed to meet global workforce needs. The university emphasizes practical learning, digital innovation, sustainable development, and strong cooperation with local and international industries.
